magicbeans. nothing if not awkward.

there is a small (compared to rome's) flea market in gubbio on tuesday mornings. i had hopes for a new pair of pants, but there seemes only to be one stall with one style of men's jeans, and they had a leather patch. all the rest of the clothes, with the exception of some socks and undershirts, were women's.

i swear i'm coming closer and closer to just starting to wear women's clothes.

i did buy a small purse, really more of a little courier's bag, but it mught as well be a purse. it's just slightly too small for my new hello kitty sketchbook though.

---

early on, here in ponte calcara, when i was being grilled about every possible thing that mught be an exception to my veganism ("you don't drink milk, but do you eat cereal with milk?"), i made the mistake of bringing up the alternative of soymilk. i don't even really like soymilk, but they tracked some down. and now i have to drink it. and it only comes in four packs, so i have to drink a lot of it.

but this afternoon i was sitting in my room reading and it was getting cold--the sun goes down early in the mountains, and without the sun it gets cold quickly--and i was brought a big mug of warm soymilk. they are very nice here.

sometimes they're very tough to read though. i can never really tell when they are actually upset with each other and when it's only mock-upset. and it makes me uncomfortable. it's as if i've stumbled into someone's private argument but i don't really know what's going on and i don't know if i should just sit quietly or politely excuse myself or what.

i think it's just part of the culture though. one fay last week while i was sitting outside reading or sketching i overheard a huge argument between the neighbors. and sometimes it seems like everyone's voiceis just a little louder than usual and slightly venomous.

bret's family was always that way when i visited while we were at nmh and umass. i guess you just get used to it. and it's probably easier when you can understand all the words and the context. although angelo looks about as uncomfortable as i feel when these things happen and he's stuck with them.